Trolley for overhead-trolley systems.



PATENTBD MAY 15, 1906.

B. P. LANDIS. TROLLBY FOR OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.20,1905.

l T E E H S S T E E H S 3 mnnzw. a cmnm cm mTmLflmnmums. WASHINGTON. uv n.

No.820,423. PATENTED MAY15,1'906.'

B. F. mums.

TROLLEY FOR OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEMS.

- APPLIUATIOK FILED P3120, 1905. SHEETFSHBT 3.

AIDIEW. l umn 00,. rmvo-umonumim. wwvwxm e. c.

EZRA F. LANDIS, OF LA SALLE, NET/V YORK.

TROLLEY FOR QVERHEAD-TROLLEY SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906.

Application filed February 20, 1905. Serial No. 246.509.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, EZRA F. LANDIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Salle, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolleys for Overhead-Trolley Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trolleys for overhead-trolley systems, and particularly in trolleys of the type having retaining means to prevent the accidental disengagement of the trolley-wheel from the trolley-wire.

The object of my invention is to provide a compact and simple device in which all parts of the mechanism provided for retaining the trolley-wheel in contact with the trolleywire are confined within space bounded by the periphery of the trolley-head to provide a retaining device which is designed to close over the wire with a drag movement when coming in contact with hangers and switches, due to the retainers having inwardly-springforced portions in rear of the pivotal points thereof; to provide independent operating means for disengaging the retaining device from the trolley-wire; to provide means for cooling the bearing of the trolleywheel, and to otherwise improveon trolleys now in use.

With these and other objects in view, to be hereinafter disclosed, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a trolley, showing its location on a car and the means for connecting the retainer-actuating rope to the trolley-rope. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved trolley. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line at 90, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section of the trolley. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section through one of the bearings for the retainer-bars, taken on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the trolley-head, showing the construction of the bearing portions thereon for the retainer-bars. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the trolley-head with all attachments removed. Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the retainer-bars. Fig. 10 is a sectional inverted perspective view of the upper end of one of the retainer-bars. Fig. 11

is an enlarged horizontal section through the.

trolley-wheel, taken on line .2 2, Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts in the several figures.

The numeral 1 designates the trolleypole, which is secured with its lower end to the car 2 in the usual manner (not shown) and which has secured to its upper end the usual rope 3, whereby the pole can be drawn down for disengagement from the trolley-wire, (desi nated by the numeral 4,) said rope being within convenient reach of the conductor.

To the upper end of the pole my improved trolley-head 5 is secured, it comprising two side members 6, separated by a space 7, in which the trolley-wheel 8 is held, and a shank 9, connecting said side members and being removably secured, as is common, to the pole proper. Said side members are of circular formation, and passing centrally through the same is a bolt 10, on which the trolley-wheel is revolubly mounted, the latter having the usual Babbitt or composition bearing 11.

The circular side members are of a greater diameter than the trolley-wheel, so that the peripheral or marginal portions thereof extend beyond the periphery of said wheel, and the space 7 between said members is of even size throughout, except at the upper end thereof, at which point each member is provided with an inward extension 12, having an inclined inner face 13. This permits the trolley-wheel to be quickly and conveniently inserted between the members of the head from the bottom, and when properly mounted within the head said extensions 12 serve as overhanging ledges, which are in close proximity to the periphery of the trolley-wheel, so that the trolley-wire cannot enter the space between the latter and said ledges. The inclined inner face of said ledges are arranged in line with the curved sides of the groove 14 in the trolley-wheel and serve as continuations of the same. This makes it possible to quickly and conveniently place the trolley-Wheel in contact with the trolleywire, and in connection with retaining devices, to be presently described, effective means are provided for preventing accidental disengagement of the trolley-wl1eel from the wire without possibility of the latter being wedged between'the parts of the trolley.

The retaining devices provided lie on opposite sides of the trolley-head and each com prises a rock-shaft 15, journaled in bearings 16 on the sides of the head, an actuating-arm 17, formed on the lower end of the rock-shaft, and aretainer-bar 18 formed on the upper end of said shaft. Collars are formed on each of the rock-shafts and lie against the upper face of the upper bearings 16 and against the lower face of the lower bearings, thus preventing lengthwise movement of said shafts. The arms 17 are positioned inline with openings 19 in the side members of the head, each arm 17 having arope or cord 20 secured to its outer end. Said ropes or cords pass through the o enings 19 and down through a transverse s 0t 21, formedin aweb 22, extending from the upper end of the shank, and a short distance beneath the head they are united into or connected to a single actuating-rope 23, which passes through eyes or loops 24, attached to the trolley-rope 3 and has its end within reach of the conductor. By this means the retaining devices can be actuated without taking hold of the trolley-rope 3, which is desirable on many occasions.

The retainer-bars 18, formed on the rockshaft 1.5, extend rearward and inward from the latter and pass through curved slots 25, formed in the head near the periphery there of, said slots extending through the extensions 12. Said retainer-bars are curved from front to rear to correspond with the curvature of the slot 25, so that they may work freely therein, and the inner edges 26 thereof are curved to meet mid-length, as at 27, thus providing converging and diverging edges in front and in rear of their points of contact for engagement with hangers and switches supporting the trolley wire. Normally these companion retainer-bars are held in contact but this is not absolutely necessary, as the device will be quite as effective if sepa rated; but when separated the space between said bars shall not be sufficient to allow the trolley-wire to pass up between the two bars. In either case, however, means must be provided to hold the retainers in their normal position, which, as herein shown, is preferably done by forming a stud 28 on the inner face of each arm 17, which enter the ends of a compression-spring 29, located in the head between said arms.

In the under side of each of the retainerbars 18 a longitudinal groove 30 is provided, as shown in Figs. 4 and 10, and when the trolley-wheel accidentally leaves the wire the retainer-bars come in contact with said wire and deflect the same laterally, right or left, into one of said grooves and against the inclined sides of the extensions 12, when the wire is directed into the groove in the trolleywheel. In passing under hangers and switches, to which the trolley-wire is secured, the retainer-bars come in contact therewith and are separated against the action of the spring 29, which latter serves to close the retainer-bars as soon as the latter pass the hanger. By providing the retamer-bars with oppositely-curved inner edges they are opened quickly and freely, as the hangers and the wire-supports on switches serve as wedges when coming in contact with the converging edges in front of the points of contact of said bars. Said retainer-bars are as readily closed when the diverging portions of said edges in rear of their points of contact pass said hangers and supports.

It is apparent from the foregoing that by reason of the retainer-bars having their pivotal points at their front ends and opening and closing with a lateral swinging movement they act with a drag movement and are drawn along, so as to quickly open and close.

Each of the bearings 16 for the rock-shafts of the retainer devices consists of a slightlyelevated portion 31, having a semicylindrical depression 32 and companion lugs 33 extend ing therefrom and. a cap 34 held between the companion lugs and having a corresponding semicylindrical depression 35. Each lug 33 has its inner face inclined upward and down ward from the longitudinal center, as at 35 and each cap 34 has its sides provided with complementary inclines, as at 36, so as to fit between said companion lugs. This construction prevents displacement upward or downward of the caps 34, and with the aid of a cotter or other pins 37, passing through the lugs 33 and bearing against the outer faces of said caps secure bearings are provided for the 1 rock-shafts of the retaining devices. The rock-shafts, as shown in Fig. 4, lie preferably in line with or partly within the sides of the trolley-head, and to permit of this the latter is grooved, as at 38, thus providing a space between the shafts and the said sides. By this arrangement contact of the shafts with the trolley-head is avoided and free and easy action is obtained, as well as a very compact device.

Extending from the sides of the trolley head directly beneath the slot 25 therein are lugs 39, which come in contact with depending portions of the switches as the trolley passes underneath the same and serve to lower the edge of the trolley-head out of contact with the switch, thereby preventing wear on that portion of the side members closing the slots 25 at the top and also, in case of the trolley being brought in violent contact with the switch, preventing the bending of the metal at the top of said slits, which would cause binding of the retainer-arms and render the same inoperative. By passing the retainer-arms through slots in the side members of the trolley-head they are protected and cannot come in contact with the body or plate portions of switches now in common use.

The sides of the trolley-head I provide with suitable air-openings 10 which are to be used in creating a circulation of air through said head. In conjunction therewith and for such purpose I use an open trolley-wheel in which the hub and peripheral rim thereof are connected by radial webs orarms 4:1, inclined laterally and extending the full width of the wheel. By inclining each of the radial arms laterally, so that one edge thereof lies in advance of the other, air is drawn into the trolley-head on one side through the openings 40 and forced out through the openings on the other side of the head, thus creating a current of air when the trolley-wheel revolves to keep the bearing of the latter cool.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a trolley-pole having a trolley-head, a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said trolley-head, and a rope connected to said pole, of retaining means to revent accidental disengagement of the trolley-wheel from a trolley-wire, and an actuating-rope attached to said retaining means for actuating the same and being loosely held to said rope on the trolley-pole to permit 01 independent movement.

2. The combination with a trolley-pole having a trolley-head, and a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said head, of a rope secured to said pole and having a series of loops thereon, retaining means to prevent accidental disengagement of the trolley-wheel from a wire, and a rope attached to said retaining means for actuating the same and passing through said loops on the first-mentioned rope.

3. The combination with a trolley-pole having a trolley-head, of a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said head, and retainerarms lying lengthwise within said head and above the trolley-wheel and being pivotally supported at their front ends.

4. The combination with a trolley-pole having a trolley-head, of a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said head, and curved companion retainer-bars lying within said head and above the trolley-wheel and having their inner edges curved to approach each other mid-length, said retainer-bars being supported on vertical pivots at one of their ends for lateral swinging movement.

5. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a trolley-head comprising a shank, and two side members separated by a space and having slotted inward extensions at the upper marginal portions thereof with inclined inner faces, a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said head and having the sides of its groove in line with the inclined sides of said extensions, and retainer-bars passing through the slots in said inward extensions and lying above the trolley-wheel to prevent accidental disengagement of the trolley-wheel from a trolley-wire.

6. The combination with a trolley-pole, of

a trolley-head having a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted therein, said head extending above the periphery of said wheel and being rovided with a slot having its direction of ength in line with the direction of travel, and a similarly-disposed retainer-bar movable in said slot and having a vertical rockshaft at one end, said bar lying above the trolleywheel.

7. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a trolley-head, having slots arranged lengthwise therein a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said head, and companion retainer-bars lying over the trolley-wheel within the slots in said trolley-head and being pivotally supported at one of their ends, said retainer-bars having their opposing edges converging from their front ends toward the center and diverging toward the rear ends from an intermediate point.

8. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a trolley-head comprising a shank, two side members, and a web at the upper end of said shank, said web connecting the side members and having a transverse slot, a trolleywheel revolubly mounted in said trolley-headretaining devices at opposite sides of the trolley-head to prevent accidental disengagement of the trolley-wheel from a trolley-wire, and actuating-ropes connected to said retaining devices and passing through the transverse slot in said web and down within convenient reach to actuate the same.

'9. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a trolley-head having circular sides and curved slots near the periphery of said sides, a trolley-wheel of smaller diameter than the circular sides of the trolley-head, and curved companion retainer-bars movable in said slots and lyin outside the periphery of the trolley-wheeT.

10. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a trolley-head having a trolley-wheel revolu bly mounted therein and having its sides extending beyond the periphery of said wheel, said head having curved slots at opposite sides outside the periphery of said wheel, retaining devices on opposite sides of the head comprising rock-shafts journaled in bearings on the sides of said head, rearwardly-extending curved retainer-bars at the upper ends of said shafts and extending through said slots to lie above the trolley-wheel in opposing relation, and actuating-arms at the lower ends of said shafts, means for holding the retainerbars yieldingly above the trolley-wheel, and means for actuating said retaining devices.

11. The combination with a trolley-pole, of a trolley-head having a flanged trolley-wheel revolubly mounted therein and having the side members thereof extending beyond the periphery of said wheel, extensions on the inner sides of the side members to form ledges overhanging the flanges of the trolley-wheel and having inclined inner faces, and companion retainer-bars lying above the trolleywheel and having grooves on their inner sides.

12. The combination with a trolley-pole, a trolley-head, and a trolley-wheel revolubly mounted in said trolley-head, of retaining devices on opposite sides of said trolley-head comprising rock-shafts and retainer-bars, bearings on the sides of said head in which said rock-shafts are j ournaled, each bearing consisting of two parts, one of which is formed on said headand comprises an elevation having a semicylindrical groove and outstanding lugs having their opposing inner sides inclined upward and downward from the longitudinal center, and the other part of each of said bearings fitting between said lugs and comprisin a cap havmg a cooperating semicylindrica groove and complementary inclined sides to fit the inclined inner sides of said lugs, and suitable means for actuating said retaining devices.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EZRA F. LANDIS. Witnesses:

EMIL 'NEUHART, MAY F. SEwERT, 

